Iran collects nine medals in Shotokan karate tournament

Iranian male and female karate practitioners have received nine medals, including four gold ones, at the 12th edition of the World Shotokan Karate-Do Championship in Japan.

Iranian karate practitioner Ahmad Safi

On Saturday, Alireza Nadimi Ghasroldasht overwhelmed his competitors in the march to the final bout of the junior individual kata division at the indoor Nippon Budokan arena in central Tokyo. He eventually emerged triumphant in the last competition and claimed the gold.

Ahmad Safi picked up another gold medal for Iran in the veteran's kata section. His Jordanian competitor got the silver medal, while a representative from Germany snatched the bronze.

The Iranian team, comprising Amir Bahador Tadayyon, Soheil Sajjadifar and Rouzbeh Roshani, also stood atop the podium in the men's kata class to win the gold medal. The Iranians were followed by Venezuelans and Uzbeks, who claimed the silver and bronze medals respectively.

Iranian female karate fighters Zahra Sheikhi, Fatemeh Movaffaqi and Ghazal Naderi also performed brilliantly in the women's kata category, and collected the gold medal. The silver medal went to the Venezuelan sportswomen, and the Japanese outfit settled for the bronze.

Amir Hossein Haqqi pocketed a silver medal in the 13-15 age range kata competitions, Mohammad Mehdi Parto-Afkan bagged a bronze in the junior kumite contests, and Nader Gharaei stood behind athletes from South Africa and Germany to win the bronze in the veteran's kata division.

The Iranian veteran kata team, including Gholam Ali Tabarzad, Gharaei and Safi, also landed in the third position and picked up a silver medal. Russia claimed the top spot and was awarded the gold medal, while the Irish took the bronze.

The 12th edition of the World Shotokan Karate-Do Championship started in the Japanese capital city of Tokyo on August 22 and will wrap up on August 24.

The international sport event has brought together dozens of male and female karate practitioners from 40 countries, including Iran, the United Arab Emirates, Kazakhstan, Jordan, Germany, Venezuela, Uzbekistan, Japan, and Russia.